The Bansfield Benefice is the collective name for the Parishes of Cowlinge, Denston, Lidgate, Ousden, Stansfield, Stradishall and Wickhambrook in the Diocese of St Edmundbury and Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Another year of crises and the principalities of this age continue to raise turbulent echoes to advent journeys of long ago. Still we hear biblical narrative translated into today’s reports of displaced persons.

Here an abridged BBC report on the migrant crises:-

"The authorities have detailed plans to compel the dispersal of the populace to orientation centres for the processing of applications.

Across the country orientation centres have been created: in former barracks, disused hospitals and training-centres, and of out-of-season holiday villages, those who say they have family there are expected to go.

The planning is thorough, the intentions are good, but there are many imponderables".

And from the biblical text:-

"And in those days a decree went out that all the world should be registered. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also, … He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn".

So we might ponder on those born in today's travail, whether they may offer the world hope of such peace and salvation as raised light that first advent.

And as we rehearse again our Saviour's birth, might we ponder such journeys as we have faced at the compulsion of this world, to whom did we turn, for compassion mercy and lodging.

And to a world beset with rival claims to sovereignty authority and power may we uphold the light of those rulers truly wise, who seek to offer gifts of sacrificial service and of loyalty to the healing of division.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

We are looking forward to hosting our Advent Saturday Workshop 26th November at All Saints Wickhambrook from 12 Noon. We will be opening our new Labyrinth with our afternoon workshops and the evening's screening of the Estevez movie "The Way" starring Martin Sheen. Through the afternoon we will be discussing three episodes from the film which relate to our own life stories, and the stories of the Gospel, and sharing our own walk together in the way of the Labyrinth, the way of prayer.

"The Way" tells the story of the 800 kilometre journey across Spain to Santiago de Compostela. We'll begin and end with some pilgrim fare – a ploughman's lunch to begin and a fish and chip supper to close the afternoon, ready to settle down to the evening's screening of the complete movie. If you’re interested in sharing our stories, our own live "movie blog", then do give me a ring.

November's story of Remembrance marks not only our nation's remembrance of the First World War, 100 years on, but also our own in marking All Saints and All Soul's day. This year's Remembrance Service will be held Sunday 13th November 10am at St Margaret's Cowlinge, and will mark the story of a local family. Three Bitten brothers along with cousins, Ransomes and Starlings, seven in all, are named among the fallen on St Margaret's War Memorial, and their relatives have arranged to mark their centenaries this year by sharing in our laying of wreaths, reading of names, and two minutes silence, and I have invited a family member, the reverend Mark Janes a Baptist minister to preach for us and share their story.

Our service of All Soul's offers the lighting of candles in prayer at the reading of the names of our own dear departed. If you would like to attend our service and share in this then please do give me a call and let me know the names of those you would like remembered. Our All Soul's service will be held Sunday November 6th 3pm at All Saints Wickhambrook with refreshments served after in the Benefice Hall.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as may choose to share both the story of faith's pilgrimage and the remembrance of those who have died, whether the fallen of War or our own dear departed. In our telling and remembrance we turn the path of our lives away from this world's darkness toward the light of this world's hope, that we may build peace, peace in the lives of the nations and peace in the lives of our families’ friends and loved ones.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

As the year's seasons draw to a close in Harvest festivals, the Church marks the remembrances of November. Our national Remembrance Sunday service is this year 13th November 10am at St Margaret's Cowlinge. Our All Souls' remembrance service will be held the week before on 6th November 3pm at Wickhambrook All Saints'. All who wish are invited to this service at which we read the names of those who have died, whose funerals have been ministered by myself since last years' service, or any who have experienced bereavement who wish for their loved ones to be remembered in this way. Throughout October lists will be available to sign after each morning service in church, though you may like to ring the Rectory, so you can be sure to add the names of your departed loved ones to those we will name in our service. After the service we will gather in the Benefice Hall next to the church for refreshments and opportunity to chat.

Harvest both for the working of the field and the works of our faith crowns the year with her glory and signals the time to prepare for next year's growth. In our discipleship of faith those who follow the Way of Christ are called to grow faith wherever the seed is scattered. As the Church's year is crowned with the festival of Christ the King the Sunday following marks the Advent of our Christ as the church with all the world prepares for the celebration of the story of Christ's birth.

All Saints' Wickhambrook will be telling the story of faith's pilgrimage, we invite all who may to an afternoon workshop by way of our live "Movie Blog", not via the web but held at All Saints Wickhambrook the Saturday before Advent Sunday, that is the 26th November from 12 Noon. We will be looking at the Emilio Estevez film "The Way" starring Martin Sheen. "The Way" tells the story of the 800kilometre journey across Spain to Santiago de Compostela. We then will view the stories of the lead characters, and share their pilgrimage in walking our own Way of pilgrimage, that is our newly mown Labyrinth now in All Saints' churchyard. We'll begin and end with some pilgrim fare – a ploughman's lunch to begin and a fish and chip supper to close the afternoon. Then in the evening we will be screening the complete movie. If you're interested in sharing our stories do give me a ring.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Our little union of nations continues her sojourn through the years into an uncertain future as we struggle once more with what it is to be, not a part of, but apart from Europe, tracing and retracing the path of our history. For many folk the journey of our lives too can be one of changed directions and retraced steps.

And I am reminded again, as we approach the height of the holiday season, of the journeys our forebears once made from all across the nation states and nations of Europe, lesser or greater, folk of high rank or low, yet common to a deeper path of unity and loyalty in faith. So they shared their journeys along the Way under the Stars following the direction of the heavens even to the ends of the earth, across from all points East to farthest West till at Cape Finisterre, the pilgrim, gazed westward across the Atlantic to be reminded by the stars of the night sky in the pointing finger of the Milky Way, of the journey we all ultimately share when at the end of the journey of our lives we find our place amidst the heavens. At the drama of this revelation the pilgrim was bounden to return across the same Europe they had trod before back again to their own lands as the fields of their labours called them home. Such journeys offered the pilgrim transformative Holy days, strength, hope, and vision for whatever uncertainties their futures would face, for they had experienced a trial common to all pilgrims met along the Way, through which they could recognise their greater sharing together in this pilgrimage of life.

Still today is this same pilgrimage made, open to those of faith or none, the pilgrimage itself predating discipleship in the Way of Christ. Among the parishes of Bansfield Benefice, beginning with All Saints' Wickhambrook we will be establishing little echoes of this journey in our churchyards. And at the beginning of Advent this year, All Saints' Church will launch this "Way of Prayer", or "Labyrinth", with an afternoon workshop and an evening screening of the Emilio Estevez film The Way, featuring Martin Sheen. The Way was a lifetime's ambition for Father and Son team Estevez and Sheen, as they sought to evoke in film something of this great journey across Europe to Santiago de Compostela and beyond.

Our screening day will be open to all, whether of faith or not and I will include more details in future newsletters. But for now I pray you all may experience in your holidays, times to offer strength hope and vision for the journey of our days ahead.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Our little union of nations continues her sojourn through the years into an uncertain future as we struggle once more with what it is to be, not a part of, but apart from Europe, tracing and retracing the path of our history. For many folk the journey of our lives too can be one of changed directions and retraced steps.

And I am reminded again, as we approach the height of the holiday season, of the journeys our forebears once made from all across the nation states and nations of Europe, lesser or greater, folk of high rank or low, yet common to a deeper path of unity and loyalty in faith. So they shared their journeys along the Way under the Stars following the direction of the heavens even to the ends of the earth, across from all points East to farthest West till at Cape Finisterre, the pilgrim, gazed westward across the Atlantic to be reminded by the stars of the night sky in the pointing finger of the Milky Way, of the journey we all ultimately share when at the end of the journey of our lives we find our place amidst the heavens. At the drama of this revelation the pilgrim was bounden to return across the same Europe they had trod before back again to their own lands as the fields of their labours called them home. Such journeys offered the pilgrim transformative Holy days, strength, hope, and vision for whatever uncertainties their futures would face, for they had experienced a trial common to all pilgrims met along the Way, through which they could recognise their greater sharing together in this pilgrimage of life.

Still today is this same pilgrimage made, open to those of faith or none, the pilgrimage itself predating discipleship in the Way of Christ. Among the parishes of Bansfield Benefice, beginning with All Saints' Wickhambrook we will be establishing little echoes of this journey in our churchyards. And at the beginning of Advent this year, All Saints' Church will launch this "Way of Prayer", or "Labyrinth", with an afternoon workshop and an evening screening of the Emilio Estevez film The Way, featuring Martin Sheen. The Way was a lifetime's ambition for Father and Son team Estevez and Sheen, as they sought to evoke in film something of this great journey across Europe to Santiago de Compostela and beyond.

Our screening day will be open to all, whether of faith or not and I will include more details in future newsletters. But for now I pray you all may experience in your holidays, times to offer strength hope and vision for the journey of our days ahead.

Friday, July 1, 2016

As I write, the hopes and dreams of peoples and nations are held in the hand of an electorate, as also the sports arena sees a procession of winners and losers.

Who ultimately will be the victor though may be a matter of debate and even take years to be seen, as our global village struggles, in an age of biblical challenge, pandemic, climate change and displaced persons, to understand such cross-generational biblical questioning, as from the defensive plea of Genesis, "Am I my brother's keeper"?, to the teaching of the Gospels, "Who is my neighbour", to Jesus' own recognition of the hour before him in his first miraculous act, "What concern is that to you and me, my hour is not yet come".

Well for Christians our concern is modelled on the Acts of Jesus Saviour, our Christ, who chose to make the hour of our need, his hour, sharing our joys and sorrows, ultimately sharing our mortality, giving his life to save his followers and his nation. As they struggled to understand what he had done for them, they understood his Word lived on in their deeds, the Acts of the Apostles, as today, the Acts of Christian peoples throughout the world revealing Christ's continuing presence, his risen life, amidst our hours and days.

Among Jesus' many encounters is that of the hour he met the Gerasene demonic, a man out of his mind, beset by illness and ostracized by society. The Gospel story mirrors his fate with that of the Judaic peoples of his day, occupied by Rome's Legions, for the Gerasene is held captive in chains and himself occupied by a legion of demons. His violence imprisoned him and society placed guards against his entry for protection. Jesus liberated him from the possession of these legions, sending them to their end via a herd of unclean swine, livestock of the Roman occupation. No wonder the reaction of the Gerasene people's was one of fear, sending Jesus and his followers back from their shores. The healed Gerasene, now in his right mind, wanted to follow Jesus after his own liberation across the waters to this hoped for sovereign Judea, but Jesus asked him to stay amidst the Decapolis, the ten cities of Rome's federal state, and "declare how much God has done for you".

So are we called today to speak of the good we see, to offer release to those who look for liberty, and to make the hour of their need our own. In this is ultimately our victory, that our shores should offer hope and freedom from fear, that our lands, our global village should know the good as that righteousness of God's Kingdom come.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

June offers some great occasions to share the fellowship our Benefice offers to her villages, beginning with the Denston Gala Concert 4th June – I hope you've got your tickets, we eagerly anticipate a feast of music and refreshment, St Nicholas Church is looking forward very much to hosting this special event. And then 19th June we host our Benefice Summer Barbeque with thanks to our generous hosts the Town family at Aspen House Stansfield, this will include our 11:30am Tent Communion service where we will delight in sharing the meal of Christ's presence and confirming our fellowship together with refreshment and barbeque through to the afternoon. If you're looking for a Sunday to say hello and find new friendship among the fellowships of our benefice this would be a great Sunday to join us, do look for tickets in advance if you're able, though you can buy on the day. And at the close of the month we enjoy a traditional parish Patronal festival at St Peter's Ousden for a 5pm service of Readings and Hymns. So three events to mirror our turning of the church's seasons to Trinity, bringing to mind the fellowship of Heavenly Father, Blessed Son and Holy Spirit.

Our Sunday worship closes with the word of blessing "The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord". It is good news not only to be assured that we are indeed blessed in Spirit by the love of Father and Son, but also that our knowing God passes all understanding. Faith is beyond the certainty of proof. We know God not through book study nor through courses of learning, though these may help, but through the love of family and those we may meet. Those whose discipleship in baptism is to follow the Way of Christ, are called to share their knowing God in the good news as Jesus proclaimed of God's Kingdom on earth as in heaven. And everyone carries the hope of better days, the Christian gospel (good news) is carried in the hearts of ordinary people of faith as you or I, who look for the good in all things.

If you are looking for the good, then make that first step of faith, to seek out the Christian family and ask one of our number to share with you their hope in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

From Xanadu to Utopia, from Metropolis to Matrix's Zion, these films illustrate our continuing desire to look to paradise, such universally held visions of faith lead us to go beyond the understated hope that "things can only get better" to ponder what if things were the best they could be – perfick! Whether you hear 'Pop' or 'Ed' here (Darling Buds of May or Shaun of the Dead!) underlines our failure to realise the best we could be, looking for God's Kingdom on earth seems ever through human history fraught with the dream turning to nightmare. Yet the worse things get, the greater the hope of our prayer "On earth as in Heaven".

John Lennon's vision seems to sidestep the failings of world faiths in seeking to realise God's Kingdom come. "Imagine there's no heaven,.. no hell below us, above us only sky, imagine all the people living life in peace". Yet the dream of the Christian faith in heaven's New Jerusalem is also that of heaven and earth passed away Revelation 21, a city without any Temple, for God is seen to dwell among mortals, all are blessed in knowledge and love of God.

Such is the call of our Archbishops, Justin Welby and John Sentamu, that amidst the suffering of worldly conflicts, amidst the pain of our daily living, those of faith and those of none should raise the hope of a new better day. Christian's express this in the daily prayer "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven." The Churches of Bansfield Benefice will be sharing this prayer, as across the nation, in the week before our celebration of Pentecost (15th May) when God's Spirit was seen anew among Jesus' disciples. The promise of faith in this Pentecost event is that God's Spirit is given to all who would turn and follow Christ, as witnessed by His Church to this day. And so in the week before Pentecost, All Saints Church Wickhambrook will be open for prayer each evening up to 9pm. There will be prepared a special display for people to see, to meditate, to pray. Candles may be lit, and a member of the church will be present (from 7:30pm) ready to help and encourage if needs, cards with the text of the Lord's Prayer will be ready for use. I hope many will be drawn to turn anew toward the Way of Christ in looking for the Kingdom at hand this day, at your hand and at mine.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Our Diocese has just welcomed our new bishop of Dunwich, bishop Mike, to assist our diocesan bishop Martin. Bishop Mike's service of welcome and installation was a great occasion and included an intoxicating spiritual mix of hymnody and worship song, with organ, choir, soloist and orchestra. But the music of welcome wasn't confined to the arches of the cathedral, the bells rang out their joyful welcome for the whole of Bury St Edmunds to hear. Bishop Mike encouraged his flock to be bold in proclaiming their faith, to embrace spiritual entrepreneurism, to speak of the benefit, health and strength in serving other's needs, and gathering together to share our faith and praise our God.

So, taking up bishop Mike's call I'm setting out the benefit for health, socialising, and fun in sharing the welcome call to worship, that is the stimulating pursuit of bell-ringing! We have two ringing towers in regular use in our benefice, at St Margaret's Stradishall and St Margaret's Cowlinge. You don't have to have faith or be a regular worshiper, though having an open mind and willingness to use your instruction to celebrate Sunday worship and Christian Marriage is a good start. But let me borrow some further invitation from an excellent website http://www.bellringing.org/fitness/.

You've heard of workouts with dumbbells, now try church bells! Bells are the largest and loudest instrument in the world. But they are also the perfect way to get gentle physical exercise and increase active living for people who are looking for alternatives to conventional sport. Just like the practice of the Christian faith, it's better together!

What's even better is that bell ringing is open to everyone - young and old - and with any level of existing fitness. Whilst bells can weigh up to 4,500kg most are much lighter and are rung using mainly technique rather than strength. The movement of bell ringing often helps many people to stay active longer and increase agility.

Professional trainers and health experts now recommend bell ringing to &elip;

improve agility, co-ordination, and reaction times

tone core abdominal muscles and glutes

work biceps, quads and calves with minimal force

develop muscle endurance

As well to enjoy the new friendships an active social life brings! Once you have learned the basic techniques you will always be made welcome when you visit any of the 5,000 other towers in the UK. A warm welcome awaits you at our two towers of Cowlinge and Stradishall, why not give our tower captain a call today:- David Wedgwood - please use the contact details in the footer of the page. (Practice nights mostly Stradishall Fridays 8-9pm, but check first with David.)

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

The winding road of our Church's year takes us from Epiphany – showing – through Lent – preparation – to Passiontide, Holy Week and Easter, quite a pilgrimage.

So often in Christian faith we can be so focused on personal revelation we diminish the greater life we proclaim, that of our company together in the risen life of our Christ. Many Christian communities come together for Palm Sunday processions to enact this greater presence we share through our common discipleship, following together in the Way of Christ. Palm Sunday is the second of the great processional days of Christ's Church, the first being Christ's Presentation in the Temple – Candlemas for our bearing candles, Palm Sunday for our bearing palms. These processional days frame February through to March and help us reflect on our work through Lent of growing our Easter faith.

Our Diocese is celebrating the installation of our new assistant bishop Mike, a great gathering witnessed his installation as bishop of Dunwich in St Edmundsbury cathedral, and we look forward to our part in his promotion of growth across our Diocese particularly amongst our young. Our demonstration of support for this new ministry among us, shared with our diocesan bishop Martin, reminds us of our common purpose to share knowledge and love of God and of His Son. We demonstrate that knowledge and love through our actions, and in this we are ever better together.

So our Palm Sunday procession, demonstrates our part in Christ's mission, the growth of God's Kingdom on earth as in heaven. As we share in hailing our Christ as King, we grow in our conviction all to play our part in bearing the fruits of God's Kingdom. Some may indeed take on great works, as our bishops Martin and Mike, though ours may be the lesser task, in the personality of Jesus we in our deeds become one, ours is no lesser task in growing God's kingdom than those great leaders of faith we welcome and applaud. Through our service in practical neighbourliness and friendly welcome we too go about our modest work in making real the story of God's love by our simple living, looking for no reward save that of knowing we do our Lord's will, as Ignatius Loyola's prayer puts it. We by our preparing the way, encouraging, applauding, turning to good works, welcome our Christ into our lives and share His Kingdom with those whom we meet this day. As we come to the end of our Lenten journey carrying our palms, we are reminded of our last procession carrying our candles, the light of our lives, and with joy determine to live in that greater light together growing God's kingdom for Christ's risen life today.

Monday, February 1, 2016

From Christ's boyhood Presentation in the Temple at Candlemas to His Palm Sunday return and Easter Rising again in the Living Temple of His faithful, the natural world too is telling her story of new life in lengthening days anticipating the greening of field and flowering of meadow.

So the story of Christ's infant nativity turns to the story of His new life in the fields of our hearts.

Our Lenten journey sees each day lightening and our own anticipation of summer's warming balm.

Coming to belief for many can too be a slow revelation of first shoots to first fruits. As the realization of love's longing, to come to that blessing of knowledge and love of God can be likened to the glories of those longed for summer days. Lives can be transformed whether through finding strength to endure, or finding release and freedom from all that might hold you back. Finding our faith can be as that new dawn, or as the lengthening day of this Lenten pilgrimage.

A good time then for study and reflection. Perhaps for some of you, a good walk can set the world to rights, for others perhaps a more focused enquiry. I hope again to maintain the Wickhambrook Labyrinth (next to All Saints Church) for just such folk as those whose spiritual journey is better aided by being on their feet rather than their knees.

Should you be exploring your spiritual journey with God perhaps I can help, let me know and our benefice can set up a fellowship group for you to support your growth in faith. Of course you may have links with other churches, do be bold and make this Lent a time to nurture the green shoots of your faith.

Friday, January 1, 2016

As our villages echo with the cheery greeting "happy New Year!" we hold in our thoughts and prayers those whose Christmas and New Year has begun amidst flood damaged homes, or temporary lodging, or makeshift shelters in underpass or hedgerow. So many begin this new year in transit, either waiting for arrival or simply seeking escape.

We are all familiar with the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem but many are less familiar with their escape to Egypt and their year's in exile before returning to their Nazareth home on hearing news of an end to Herod's persecutions and oppressions. Egypt continues to bear the burden of sanctuary for so many displaced peoples today, may they too look to hear news of an end to the persecutions and oppressions of their homelands.

The stories of Jesus' infancy continue in the Church's calendar throughout January and February, as this new born is acclaimed a new beginning for all peoples. The new beginning offered in this Nazarene migrant took a life time of waiting before the fulfilment for all life of that hoped for good news in Christ's resurrection. Pray there will be good out of today's great migrations, that those whose lives seem trapped in transit will find their new beginning and that their hopes born in transit will mature to offer good news in this day.

The prayer Christ taught his followers has been heard by those of faith and none in Cliff Richard's Millennium prayer sung just a decade or so ago, setting the daily plea of faith, God's Kingdom come, to that perennial greeting to the New Year, Auld Lang Syne. In this coming of God's Kingdom of peace and justice for all we pray ‘lead us not into temptation’ which may also be read, lead us not into trial or hard testing. Jesus warns his followers of trials to come and assures us that God shortens the time of great tribulation as St Paul too assures his readers ‘God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it 1 Corinthians 10:13. So we pray in this New Year, that the time of hard trial, of tribulation, of testing be bought short, for today's migrants, for those who have suffered floods, for those overwhelmed by life's hard testing and temptations. May the day of God's mercy come quickly, at your hand and at mine, may we provide relief for those in need and want, that they may have hope, and be able to share the greeting we offer.